Saturday, August 11, 2012

Nationwide Series Gets Center Stage

The Nationwide Series takes center stage on Saturday from Watkins Glen. It is a same-day qualifying and race show. The weather is said to be clearing, but the cars did not get much practice on Friday due to rain.

It is a pretty fascinating field of 48 entries trying to make the race. Click here to read Jayski's entry list. There are all kinds of agendas coming together in this one. Fresh races, a handful of well-funded regulars and even some road course ringers round out this field.

Including the newly promoted Sam Hornish Jr., there are seven Sprint Cup Series drivers trying to make the race as well. Nationwide regulars include Danica Patrick, Austin Dillon, and Elliott Sadler. It should be both an interesting qualifying session and race.

ESPN brings the network's regulars as well in Marty Reid, Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree to call the race. Nicole Briscoe hosts Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty in the infield pit studio for the pre-race show. Since Jamie Little had her baby on Thursday (it was a boy - Carter Wayne Selman), designated hitter Mike Massaro will join Dave Burns, Vince Welch and Dr. Jerry Punch on pit road. Once again just a reminder, Tim Brewer and the Tech Garage were discontinued by ESPN months ago.

Reid is having a tough time coming back to NASCAR in this limited role. He fumbled with words and had trouble selecting phrases during the last race telecast. This week's road course race should be particularly challenging depending on how many of the unfamiliar faces make the field. Reid may need a scorecard.

The nature of the racing will force ESPN to follow the field on restarts and the leaders once things settle down. The real storylines of the race have not emerged, but perhaps qualifying will start that ball rolling. Patrick did not particularly please anyone with her Indy performance and subsequent crash. As one of the most high-profile teams in the race, expect to be updated on her position on a very regular basis.

This is the time of the year right before college football comes along and once again swallows the Nationwide Series whole. Saturday is a good opportunity to put on a solid show for race fans and sponsors since the telecast will be carried on ABC. Qualifying will be on ESPN2.

We invite your opinion on the race telecast and broadcasters. Comments may be moderated prior to posting.

16 comments:

Buschseries61
said...

Might not make the Nationwide race but I'm watching qualifying. I love the attention a lot of people not named Danica are getting. My only complaint is Marty is once again all over the place. I have no idea what's up with him.

Hoping for a halfway decent telecast,will probably be subjected to many Danica updates,let's hope Marty can keep it together.It would be easier to take if Race Buddy worked better,but as others have said before Turner is mailing it in as a lame duck.

Agree with some people that ESPN's got a good graphic package,the problem is that they rely on it too much,they need to compliment it with good camera work.I may go out at some point during the day,but if i stay i'll try to bring some random updates on the race(IE stuff that won't get shown on TV).

Hey,is there any word on when they will come out with next year's schedules?2 years ago they come out with it right around this time of year,but last year it was until October.I would ask on Twitter,but i don't have it.

I thought the race was good as most road course races are. They had a number of cameras that were focused on some of the cars having problems. Aerial shots of the racing were good as well as those of the track complex. I raced at the Glen many times which makes the Nascar races a bit special to me. Marty was out of it, as usual. On Friday, Mikey and the booth were raving about how well Danica has progressed. I believe she has wrecked eight of the nine last weekends. She also wrecked one of Tony Stewart's cars at the Michigan tire test. It must be music to the ears of the #7 Team to hear...."wheels up"...

Good race at The Glen.Nice not hearing any Waltrip nonsense. Mikey made himself the whole show at yesterdays practice.Still looks like he thinks he is being paid by the word; never shuts up, so we shut it off.